Metallurgical briquette and method of making same



March 1938. J. w. WEITZENKORN 2,111,344

I NG SAME METALLURGICAL BRIQUETTE AND METHOD OF MAKI Filed Jan. 22, 1937mm M6 w W m h Patented Mar. 15, 1938 METALLURGICAL BRHQUETTE I .1

' UF MAN'S: SAME .lioseph W. Weitzenkorn, wanton, @hio, assignor to nineFerric-Alloys lilorporation,

wanton,

The invention relates to briquettes of metallic content for use asadditions, deoxidizers and the like, in the manufacture of ironsandst'eels, and to the method of making such briquettes.

In the manufacture of irons and steels it is customary to make additionsto the charge or melt, or various metalliferous products or ferroalloys,such as chromium, silicon, manganese, and the like, either as alloys ordeoxidizers.

As it is necessary, in order to produce the desired results, that adefinite quantity of the desired metalliferous product be added, it isdesirable that each piece or lump of the addition be of such size thatit will have a definite metallic content. ,i

To accomplish this it is commin practice to form briquettes of adefinite known weight of \the desired element, in finely divided form,mixed with cements, clays, lime or other non-metallic material as abinder. This necessitates the handling, transportation, and addition tothe charge or melt, of materials that are of no value to the iron orsteel production, and further must be fiuxed and carried away as slag,thus absorbing heat and requiring energy to discard them.

The object of the present invention is the production of briquettes ofmetallurgical products, utilizing as a binder a metalliferous product,which is of itself of value to the iron or steel to be made, and whichhas a lower melting point than the metallurgical product to bebriquetted.

A more specific object of the invention is the production of a briquettecontaining a definite known quantity of chromium, silicon, manganese orthe like, and a smaller quantityof gray iron borings or turnings, or thelike, uniformly mixed therewith as a binder.

A further object is the production of such a mixture of metalliferousmaterials packed within a closed container of sheet metal or the like.

A still further object is the provision of such a mixture ofmetalliferous materials, which is then heated to substantially themelting point of the iron, or other metal used as a binder, -cementingthe mix into a solid metallic briquettes Another object of the inventionis to form such a solid metallic briquette, either within a closedcontainer, or within a refractory mold from which the briquette isremoved when molded.

The above objects, together-with others which may be apparent from thedrawing and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be attained by producing the improved metallurgical briquettes inthe manner hereinafter described,' and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view through aclosedcontainer within which is packed a mixture of a finely dividedferro-alloy, or the like, and iron borings or turnings to form a'binder;

Fig. 2, a similar view of the article shown in Fig.

' 1, after the same has been heated to a cementing similar parts Adefinite known quantity of this finely divided metalliferous product,for example one or more pounds, is mixed with the desired amount of lowmelting point metalliferous binder, depending upon the strength ofbriquette required.

Preferably at least of the metalliferous binder is used and for mostpurposes to of the metalliferous binder is sufficient, although a.higher percentage may be used if desired.

For example, the metalliferous binder may comprise gray iron borings orturnings, or other small shapes and sizes. It should be understoodhowever that the invention is in no way limited to gray iron, asSpiegeleisen or other metalliferous product of comparatively low meltingpoint may be used as a binder. I

As shown in Fig. 1, a container III, which may be of sheet iron orsteel, may be substantially filled with a mixture of a definite knownquantity of the desired ferro-alloy or other metalliferous product, infinely divided state, as indicated at II, and the desired percentage ofgray iron borings or turnings, as indicated at l2, preferably uniformlydistributed therethrough.

This mixture may be packed within the container l0, and a lid or coverl3 may then be tightly fastened upon the container, as by crimping orseaming, as shown, thus producing a compact briquette of the desiredmixture tightly enclosed within the container.

The article shown in Fig. 1, may then be heated to a cementing heat,approximately 2250 F., in the case where gray iron borings are used,

which cements the mixture into a solid lump or briquette'within thecontainer as indicated at M in Fig. 2.

When the article as shown in Fig. 2 is charged into the cupola orfurnace, the entire container and contents will be melted down andabsorbed by the charge or melt, and will be of value to the iron orsteel being made. There is thus no handling, transporting or addition ofmaterials that are bf no value to the iron or steel production, or whichmust be fluxed and carried away as slag.

If desired, the article shown in Fig. 1, may be charged as is into acupola or furnace, in which the heat will cement the mixture into thecondition shown in Fig. 2, after which the briquette will be melted andabsorbed in the same manner as above described.

The briquettes may be formed without a container, as shown in Fig. 3, inwhich a refractory mold of separable construction, is indicated at I 5.The inside of the mold may first be given a lime or clay wash, asindicated at IE, to prevent the briquette from sticking.

A mixture of ferro-alloy and iron borings or turnings, as shown at H and12 respectively, may

then be packed in the mold in the manner described relative to Fig. 1,and then heated to a "cementing heat, as above described.

When the mold is opened the briquette as shown at l1 may be removedtherefrom and is a solid metallic block which may be safely handled andtransported, and which may be charged into a furnace or cupola as abovedescribed.

From the above it will be seen that briquettes of ferro-chromium,ferro-silicon, ferro-manganese and similar alloys can be made whereinthe binding material is of value to the production,

terial.

I claim:

'1. A briquette composed of a ferrous metal container, and a mixture offinely divided ferroalloy and a relatively small amount of metalliferousbinder having a melting point lower than said ferro-alloy and not lessthan 1800 F., within said container.

2. The method of'making a briquette for iron or steel making additionscomprising mixing a' finely divided alloy with a sufficient amount of ametalliferous binder having a melting point lower than the alloy and notless than 1800 F., and then heating the mixture to the melting point ofthe binder to form a solid metallic mass.

3. The method of making a briquette for iron or steel making additionscomprising mixing a finely divided ferro-alloy with a sufilcient amountof gray iron borings or turnings, and then heating the mixture to themelting point of the gray iron to form a solid metallic mass.

4. A briquette composed of a ferrous metal container, and a mixture offinely divided ferroalloy and a relatively small amount of binder ofgray-iron borings or turnings within said container.

JOSEPH W. WEITZENKORN.

